Summer Kids UniversityMETAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Young Activists21 June – 1 July 2016 | at ARTos Foundation

ARTos Foundation is proud to present this year’s Summer Kids University, entitled “METAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Young Activists”, which will take place on the 21 June – 1 July 2016, at ARTos Foundation, within the framework of our actions for the Creative Europe Programme – ARTECITYA 2014 – 2018, and with the support of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Through a series of participatory workshops for children between the ages of 6 – 12 years old, Kids University aims to promote the knowledge and experience that help to create strong personalities and creative and critical thinkers, with free will and confidence.

Kids University is a workshop for curious and charismatic children, which has been taking place at the ARTos Foundation since 2005 with great success. Every winter, spring and summer, educators and professionals from the fields of the arts and sciences, create a specially designed programme where children have the opportunity to develop both of their brain hemispheres: the creative hemisphere and the logical hemisphere, as to be able to envision and materialize their dreams through creative expression, scientific knowledge as well as the strengthening of self-confidence. The citizens of tomorrow with these characteristics can communicate, coexist harmoniously and can create a world that takes the humankind one step further.

For the 2016 trilogy, Kids University partners up with the Creative Europe Programme ARTECITYA 2014 – 2018, for a series of actions focusing on the transformation and improvement of our own districts and neighbourhoods. The Summer Kids University, will draw inspiration from architecture, technology, innovation, science, electronics, music, art and social impact. Through the use of collaborative processes we will attempt to create effective results in public spaces and raise awareness.

Spring Kids UniversityMETAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Reclaiming Public Space25 – 28 April 2016 | at ARTos Foundation

ARTos Foundation is proud to present this year’s Spring Kids University, entitled “METAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Reclaiming Public Space”, which will take place on the 25 – 28 April 2016, at ARTos Foundation. Through a series of participatory workshops for children between the ages of 6 – 12 years old, Kids University aims to promote the knowledge and experience that help to create strong personalities and creative and critical thinkers, with free will and confidence.

Kids University is a workshop for curious and charismatic children, which has been taking place at the ARTos Foundation since 2005 with great success. Every winter, spring and summer, educators and professionals from the fields of the arts and sciences, create a specially designed programme where children have the opportunity to develop both of their brain hemispheres: the creative hemisphere and the logical hemisphere, as to be able to envision and materialize their dreams through creative expression, scientific knowledge as well as the strengthening of self-confidence. The citizens of tomorrow with these characteristics can communicate, coexist harmoniously and can create a world that takes the humankind one step further.

For the 2016 trilogy, Kids University partners up with the Creative Europe Programme ARTECITYA 2014 – 2018, for a series of actions focusing on the transformation and improvement of our own districts and neighbourhoods. The Spring Kids University, will draw inspiration from architecture, technology, science and social impact. Together, we will reclaim our own ‘urban green areas’ through tree and herb-planting, and create our alternative, self-lit ‘public-furniture’ with the use of discarded and re-usable materials, which will then be installed around the city. Through the use of collaborative processes we will attempt to create effective results in public spaces and raise awareness.

* The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 until 14:30 and engage in creative activities with our instructors.**Please register by 22/04/2016

Summer Kids University: 20 June – 1 July 2016

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Winter Kids University

METAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Young Architects & Engineers

5 January 2016 | at ARTos Foundation

ARTos Foundation is proud to present this year’s Winter Kids University, entitled “METAPOLIS: Intervention in the City | Young Architects & Engineers”, which will take place on the 5 January 2016, as a one-day crash course.

Through a series of participatory workshops for children between the ages of 6 – 12 years old, Kids University aims to promote the knowledge and experience that help to create strong personalities and creative and critical thinkers, with free will and confidence.

Kids University is a workshop for curious and charismatic children, which has been taking place at the ARTos Foundation since 2005 with great success. Every winter, spring and summer, educators and professionals from the fields of the arts and sciences, create a specially designed programme where children have the opportunity to develop both of their brain hemispheres: the creative hemisphere and the logical hemisphere, as to be able to envision and materialize their dreams through creative expression, scientific knowledge as well as the strengthening of self-confidence. The citizens of tomorrow with these characteristics can communicate, coexist harmoniously and can create a world that takes the humankind one step further.

For the 2016 trilogy, Kids University partners up with the Creative Europe Programme ARTECITYA 2014 – 2018, for a series of actions focusing on the transformation and improvement of our own districts and neighbourhoods. The Winter Kids University, will draw inspiration from architecture, engineering, innovation and social impact. Together, and with the use of discarded and re-usable materials we will create shelters for the stray dogs and cats in the Pedieos Linear Park, Nicosia. Through the use of collaborative processes we will attempt to create effective results in public spaces and raise awareness.

5 January 2016, 8:30* – 14:30

*The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 and engage in creative activities with the instructors.

Participation fee:€ 25 (€20 for siblings)

For registrations and further information please contact us at: 99 611 159 and 22 445 455

*Please register by 29/12/2016

Kids University 2016 | METAPOLIS: Intervention in the City

Winter: 5 January 2016

Spring: 25 – 28 April 2016

Summer: 20 June – 1 July 2016

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Summer Kids University

22 June – 3 July 2015

Collaboration for City-Zen-Ship:

A “Space Odyssey” via exploration, philosophy,

anthropology, collaboration and social innovation.

ARTos Foundation is proud to present this year’s Summer Kids University, entitled “Collaboration for City-Zen-Ship”, which will take place on the 22 June – 3 July 2015 . Through a series of participatory workshops for children between the ages of 7 – 12 years old, Kids University aims to promote the knowledge and experience that help to create strong personalities and creative and critical thinkers, with free will and confidence.

Kids University is a workshop for curious and charismatic children, which has been taking place at the ARTos Foundation since 2005 with great success. Every Christmas, Easter and summer, educators and professionals from the fields of the arts and sciences, create a specially designed programme where children have the opportunity to develop both of their brain hemispheres: the creative hemisphere and the logical hemisphere, as to be able to envision and materialize their dreams through creative expression, scientific knowledge as well as the strengthening of self-confidence. The citizens of tomorrow with these characteristics can communicate, coexist harmoniously and can create a world that takes the humankind one step further.

For the 2014-2015 series of Kids University, ARTos has chosen to create a trilogy entitled “Space Odyssey via exploration, philosophy, anthropology, collaboration and social innovation”.

Participation fee:

2 weeks: €250 (€200 for siblings – per child)

1 week:€125 (€100 for siblings – per child)

5% discount for Aigaia School of Art & Design students

50% deposit required.

22 June – 3 July 2015, 8:30 – 13:00*

* The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 until 14:30 and engage in creative activities with our instructors

For registrations and further information please contact us at: 99 611 159 and 22 445 455

To view our actions for Kids Univerity in the past 10 years press here.

Workshop Descriptions and Instructors:

Breathwork Class for Children, with Elina Papa

A 30 minute class where children will explore the body & mind connection with the power of their own breath. The children will practice simple exercises of connected breathing. The class’ health benefits include the improvement of concentration, providing the body and the brain with more oxygen, promoting relaxation, improving energy, releasing physical & emotional tension and creating a sense of calmness & wellbeing.

Elina Papa is an Internationally Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher and Breathwork Therapist. In 2009, she founded The School of Laughter Yoga Cyprus, the 1st Laughter Club and Laughter Leader training centre in Cyprus. Since then, through her classes, trainings, workshops, retreats and one-on-one sessions, she has been creating awareness throughout the island and abroad, about the benefits of Therapeutic Laughter and Breathwork.

Exploration of Art’s capabilities, with Stelios Ermogenides

A creative exploration of the possibilities of art when it is presented in public areas. The children will have the opportunity to express, through painting, their feelings and concerns about local issues and discover the art of graffiti. They will have the opportunity to draw freely on large areas, which will represent the procedure while creating a graffiti and wall-drawings in the street. At the same time, the aim of the workshop will be to explain and strengthen their sense of responsibility and respect towards public spaces, but also with freedom towards artistic expression.

Stelios was born in Nicosia, in 1982. He studied Fine Arts at London’s Middlesex University and continued his studies at London Metropolitan University, graduating in 2008 with a Masters in Fine Arts. Since 2008, he lives and works in Nicosia. He participated in various group exhibitions in Cyprus and England and in 2011 he had his first solo exhibition in Nicosia.

Introduction to Site-Specific Theatre, with Lena Kasiou

Wall. Ceiling. Floor. Cracks? Smells. Colour. Shape. Windows. Light. Darkness. Feeling. Large. Small. Medium. Inside, Outside. I exist. I exist somewhere. I am somewhere. Where? How? Why? Here? Inside the room? In the neighbourhood? In the city? In the country? In the world? A space. How do we exist in a space? How does the space exist in us? How can we find life, form, characters, existence, history in the space? What can we create in the space? Through exploration, research, mobilization of all the senses, inspiration, experimentation and a particular site (site-specific) as the main stimulus, we will get driven towards a creative outcome.

Lena Kasiou studied music at the Royal Holloway University of London (Bachelor’s Degree in Music) and continued her studies in Los Angeles, where she completed the intensive course at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, in Hollywood. There she won a scholarship to attend the courses at the Lee Strasberg Institute. Moreover, she acquired a Master’s Degree in Advanced Theatre Practice at the Central School of Speech and Drama, of the University of London. She worked for various theatre performances in Los Angeles, London and Cyprus, as an actor, musician and creator. In Cyprus she is a member of the theatre group Open Arts and the administrator for the Open Minds Workshops creative development workshops for children.

From Cardboard Box to Dream City, with Eleonora Antoniadou

How do children see or dream the city and the built environment? This cardboard-made city will give them the opportunity to express themselves and create the buildings and urban spaces that they consider important. In addition, this city will be focusing on expressing the children’s point of view regarding buildings and urban spaces. New shapes; new functions; new urban relationships; all based on the children’s explorations during the workshop.

Eleonora Antoniadou holds a Degree in Architecture (Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 2008), as well as an MA in Housing and Urbanism (Architectural Association, London, 2009). She is currently studying Fashion Design at Frederick University, Nicosia, where she has also been teaching as a part-time tutor at the Architecture Faculty, since 2012. Her main field of research as well as her proposal for a Phd title at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, is based upon the “Parallel Practices in Fashion and Architecture”. She has participated in several workshops, conferences and architectural competitions in Cyprus and abroad with various distinctions. Since 2009 she has been working as an architect undertaking public and private projects.

The Artificial city Lights, with Andreas Petrou

The Artificial city lights workshop will mainly focus on light and lighting (natural and artificial).

Together we are going to try to understand lighting in its general form, going into points such us:

*Light on forms – urban lighting

*How light can control the functions of a city (society)

* What is ‘Right lighting’\’Wrong’ lighting

* The importance of a city’s lighting master plan

*The impact of lighting to humans and to the environment – light pollution

Andreas Petrou likes colours & light. During the past year he has worked on live performances and he has collaborated with different individuals and designers. At this time period, he is interested in researching audio/visuals and light establishments.

Science & Experiments, with Viken Tavitian

The “Vikexploratorium” is a highly educational and entertaining science and technology show created and developed by Viken Tavitian. It consists of hands-on approaches to complicated science phenomena unveiling them in a fun way through simple experiments. The idea of these hands-on experiments is to convey that science is all around us and there is nothing to fear of science.

Viken Tavitian is a laser physicist by education, a graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He has been a researcher, inventor, patent holder, author, teacher and projects manager in many interdisciplinary fields. During the last 4 years he created and developed the “Vikexploratorium” Science & Technology show and the Science Comedy “Vikomedy Shows”, with several thousand hands-on, fun experiments and demonstrations. And all that without the unnecessary blah blah…

Robotics and smart technologies, with George Georgiou

The workshop will focus on Robotics and other smart technologies (in ancient Greece they called them automata). Children will learn about the evolution of robotics and also how robotics will be a part of our everyday lives! Robotics is a fun and exciting way of learning mechanics, electronics, physics, programming and at the same time it enhances children’s creativity and collaborative work.

George is a mechatronics engineer (mechanical + electrical) with a great passion in using computing and Internet related Technologies (ICT) in many projects. His experience include: working as a full time lecturer at Frederick university, participating and coordinating Cyprus and EU funded projects and acting as a mentor in many start-up events in Cyprus. Founder among others www.novatexsolutions.eu, netcy.com with activities in the fields of scientific measurements, internet services, automation, robotics for use in the environment, agriculture, renewable energy and other sectors. George is also Co-founder of Yubiz.org – a non profit organisation for helping start-ups and co-founder and currently secretary of the Cyprus Association of Research and Innovation Enterprises. George is also the Coordinator of the European Robotics Week in Cyprus (many events are organised for all ages) in which he had the opportunity to give a many lectures.

Together, we will explore notions of music composition. To inject an element of form and excitement, these workshops will be presented as games of collecting, performing, recording, and analysing sound, at/in the space where we will be working at (ARTos Foundation), based on notions such as city, and citizenship (city-Zen).

Nektarios Rodosthenous studied composition and holds a BA (Hons) Music, an MMus Composition from the University of Leeds and a PhD in Music Composition from the University of York. He is an active researcher (digital media aesthetics and film musicology) and he presented his work in conferences in Cyprus, Greece, and UK. His music, often for ensemble and tape, aims to fuse the acoustic (live) with the acousmatic (tape), and he composed for mixed ensembles, soundtracks for short films, dance and theatre productions. He is the Artistic Director of the international ensemble o/f [or] (with members from UK, Cyprus, Greece, Poland and Hong Kong), of the dance theatre group ‘klinischgetestet’ and he is a trustee in Conductive Music Project which is based in London. As a music teacher, Nektarios is the music director of the Cyprus Kindergarten of the Lions International Clubs in Nicosia Cyprus, teaching pre-school music to children between the ages of 3 – 5.

Kids Yoga, with Gratsia Eftychiou

The Kids Υoga classes will consist of yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques, fun games and music. The classes will help the children to begin to learn how to play, improve self- esteem, become disciplined, and strong as well as balancing both hemispheres of the brain, coordination, balance; to have a way to relax and let go of stress, but also to become flexible and strong using full range of motion and being healthy. Children will be working together as a team while cooperation and team building skills are very important. We are kind and respectful to one another, since our differences are what make us great!

Gratsia Eftychiou is specialised in psychology and philosophy and works as a primary school teacher, in Cyprus. She has been teaching yoga for over 5 years, specializing in Kids yoga, Hatha yoga, Therapeutic yoga, Vinyassa, Prenatal Yoga, to name a few, while being a keen yoga practitioner herself for over 15 years. Having taught in various summer schools, yoga centres, private clients and working with doctors, Gratsia has found that a holistic approach, mixing science and energy, has been the fundamental basis for the way she works.

How to Build an Imaginary City, with Christina Skarpari

Our challenge for the workshop will be to find out how we can build an imaginary city through communication design, but before we start the heavy construction work, should we perhaps take a moment to break down the elements of this question? Is it about building the city or deconstructing it? Is it about blaming the city or reclaiming it? Is it even about changing the city or embracing it? Α lot of scenarios must be considered before we move forward with our plans; to change the course that we have set for ourselves, we must first face the challenge of not creating more challenges by building life all over again! This means there may be no need to build more of what’s already there, but perhaps our task here is to find ways to work with our resources for the common good of our collective, imaginary lives.

Christina graduated from MA Communication Design at Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts in London. She created the project “Xarkis” in the context of her MA research, which explored the potential of festival experiences as tools for community empowerment. What these experiences had in common was their methodology: participatory design, which is a practise-based research area that Christina is greatly interested in. She first organised and art directed Xarkis, in the form of a Festival in August 2013. Since then, and drawing inspiration from fruitful collaborations, she made up a team of educators, designers and other experts, establishing Xarkis as an NGO. There she took on the role of Director-General and initiated alongside her team, design-led projects in cities and villages of Cyprus, which aim to have a cultural and social impact. She is currently engaged in the work of Xarkis NGO and Xarkis Festival, whilst being a scientific collaborator at European University Cyprus in the subject of Visual Communication.

Character building / Character making, with Marina Hadjilouca

The workshop aims to spark the children’s imagination by creating their ‘ideal’ citizens, through a fun and creative process of character building and costume making. At the same time the young participants will explore and understand the terms citizen and citizenship. Why is it important? What is the narrative of the city and of each individual living in it? As citizens, what can we offer to our city and what can our city offer back to us?

Marina Hadjilouca is a Set and Costume Designer and a co-founder of the design group Schedia, which specialises in socially engaged design within the urban environment. Marina has been facilitating workshops for the Kids University since 2010. Marina holds a BA (Hons) in Theatre Design for Performance and an MA in Narrative Environments, and currently is working on her PhD research at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

The children will have the opportunity to learn about the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the body in a psychosomatic level, the various radiations emitted through mobile phones, computers, lighting devices etc. and the impact that the interaction of these two radiations can have on our health.

Achilleas Kentonis was born in Nicosia in 1963. He studied Electrical Engineering, Physics and Fine Arts at the University of South Alabama, USA and completed his Masters Degree in Spain. He worked for two years in “electromagnetic” research for NASA, USA and he was trained at MIT in Boston, USA in innovative thinking and its applications. Founder of the Centre of Contemporary Culture for Middle East, “Multum in Parvo” Research Centre investigating the electro-magnetic and geomagnetic radiation in relation to the human body, “Innovation Gym” which focuses on mentoring and education in order to produce innovative ideas and applications.

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Easter Kids University

6 – 9 April 2015

Collaboration for Making:

A “Space Odyssey” via exploration, philosophy,

anthropology, collaboration and social innovation

ARTos Foundation is proud to present this year’s Easter Kids University, entitled “Collaboration for Making”, which will take place on the 6 – 9 April 2015.

Through a series of participatory workshops for children between the ages of 7 – 12 years old, Kids University aims to promote the knowledge and experience that help to create strong personalities and creative and critical thinkers, with free will and confidence.

Kids University is a workshop for curious and charismatic children, which has been taking place at the ARTos Foundation since 2005 with great success. Every Christmas, Easter and summer, educators and professionals from the fields of the arts and sciences, create a specially designed programme where children have the opportunity to develop both of their brain hemispheres: the creative hemisphere and the logical hemisphere, as to be able to envision and materialize their dreams through creative expression, scientific knowledge as well as the strengthening of self-confidence. The citizens of tomorrow with these characteristics can communicate, coexist harmoniously and can create a world that takes the humankind one step further.

For the 2014-2015 series of Kids University, ARTos has chosen to create a trilogy entitled “Space Odyssey via exploration, philosophy, anthropology, collaboration and social innovation”. The Easter Kids University is the second part of our trilogy, through which we will explore collaboration, teamwork and making through exciting and innovative activities of science, design, theatre and bread-making.

Participation fee: € 100 (€80 for siblings)

5% discount for Aigaia School of Art & Design students

50% deposit required.

6 – 9 April2015, 8:30 – 13:00*

* The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 until 14:30 and engage in creative activities with the instructors

For registrations and further information please contact us at: 99 611 159 and 22 445 455

**Please register by 03/04/2015

Workshop and educators:

“Little Box Theatre” Workshops, with Eleni Cosma

The Little Box Theatre workshops will provide an introduction to creative theatre games and devised theatre, guiding the children’s boundless imaginations, and helping them to create characters and stories. Through these fun interactive exercises the children are encouraged to be more confident in themselves and to work together as a group to create a final piece.

3-D Food Craft, with Lydia Mandridou

Inspired by the Japanese, Italian, African and American cuisine, the young set designers will collaborate to create five different three-dimensional still lifes using different means and materials. After photo shooting their work they will have to re-organise their food crafts into an international dinner table that will be used as the main set of the play/performance that they will devise with Eleni Cosma (Little Box Theatre).

Science & Experiments, with Viken Tavitian

The “Vikexploratorium” is a highly educational and entertaining science and technology show created and developed by Viken Tavitian. It consists of hands-on approaches to complicated science phenomena unveiling them in a fun way through simple experiments. The idea of these hands-on experiments is to convey that science is all around us and there is nothing to fear of science.

Innovative Community in Space, with Achilleas Kentonis

The workshop will focus on two of the various meanings of the word ‘space’; these are the outer space surrounding our planet and space in the sense of the area/barriers that exist between us. During the workshop we will tackle techniques for the development of effective action planning which aid our society in bringing people closer together, with substantial results.

Design and Participation, with Marina Hadjilouca

Following our workshop with Achilleas Kentonis, we put into action the techniques we have developed for synergy, collaboration and social innovation and create an inflatable city with recycled materials, at a parallel universe. This workshop aims to build team work and an understanding of an active civil society. How do we imagine the ideal city? How can we co-exist with our neighbours? How can we help each other?

We begin with a lecture on the history and culture of bread, followed by an experiential workshop where we knead and decorate traditional Easter “Afkotes” and breads and close our workshop with a fairytale storytelling.

is also the first part of our trilogy, and will draw inspiration from the macrocosm, the earth and its relation to the solar system,

and space exploration. Through a series of workshops and a visit to the Archaeological Museum, the children

will have the chance to learn about space, the planets, our solar system and how it affects social phenomena on earth.

Participation fee: € 50 (€40 for siblings)

20% discount for Full Package of Kids University 2014 – 2015 (siblings excluded)

5% discount for Aigaia School of Art & Design students

29 & 30 December 2014, 8:30 – 13:00*

* The children can be at ARTos from 7:30 until 14:30 and engage in creative activities with the instructors

For registrations and further information please contact us at: 99 611 159 and 22 445 455

**Please register by 19/12/2014

Mobile Planetarium, with Maria Stefadourou

The mobile planetarium “Starlab” began its operation in schools, in 2004, with the approval of the Ministry of Education and Culture. It is a mobile dome which is hosted indoors and can accommodate up to 35 students. The programs aim to provide knowledge to students in an original and yet entertaining way, and above all to raise awareness on the fields of Astronomy and Environment. Through the programs, students are encouraged to use their imagination, and critical thinking to answer questions regarding our Earth, our environment and the universe.

Science & Experiments, with Viken Tavitian

The “Vikexploratorium” is a highly educational and entertaining science and technology show created and developed by Viken Tavitian. It consists of hands-on approaches to complicated science phenomena unveiling them in a fun way through simple experiments.

Installations / Sculpture, with Lydia Mandridou

A team of astronomers discover a planet outside our solar system, which could be the future home of humanity. The conditions which exist on this planet differ from those on our Earth. Space Odyssey’s little explorers are asked to study all the given information about this planet and create new uniforms with which they will be able to travel and explore this planet from up close. During the first part of the workshop we will create costumes from recyclable materials which on the second day, will be used by the children, and in collaboration with Andreas Petrou we will set up a re-enactment of the landing of small explorers in this fantastic planet.

Light Design, with Andreas Petrou

Together, we will have an informative workshop on light in the ancient years and bizarre light phenomena in the universe as well as an interactive talk on the subject “What would be different if our Sun was not white?” On the second day, in collaboration with Lydia Mandridou, we will recreate the landing on the “unknown” imaginary planet!

Guided tour of the Archaeological Museum

The Archaeological Museum of Cyprus outlines the long history of the island’s culture from prehistoric times to the early Christian period. Here, the cultural heritage of Cyprus like pottery, jewellery, sculptures and coins from the Neolithic period to the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman period, is protected and exhibited for everybody’s enjoyment.